COCONUT PALM SUGAR

Coconut sugar is a popular sweetener in many vegan diets, as it is plant-based and minimally processed. Because coconut sugar is a plant-based, natural sweetener, some people feel it is more nutritious than regular table sugar. In reality, coconut sugar is almost identical to regular cane sugar in terms of nutrients and calories.

COCONUT PALM SUGAR

Prevent low blood sugar. The body relies on glucose for energy. Like brown sugar and cane sugar, coconut sugar can help raise blood glucose levels and prevent conditions such as low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia.

Hypoglycemia can make you feel hungry, shaky, sweaty, dizzy, or nauseous. It can even lead to seizures and coma. If you are looking for a natural, plant-based sweetener to keep your blood glucose and energy levels up, coconut sugar is the ideal choice.

Lower chances of a blood sugar spike. Per serving, coconut sugar contains a small amount of inulin, a type of soluble fiber that can make post-meal blood sugar spikes less likely. Foods containing inulin can be healthy choices for people with diabetes.

While coconut sugar contains very small amounts of minerals, antioxidants, and fiber, it is still high in calories. You would need to ingest so much coconut sugar for your body to use these nutrients that the calorie count would likely outweigh any nutritional benefit.

If you're concerned that you're taking in too much added sugars, but you still need to sweeten your food or drinks, fruit and fruit juice may be your best option. For instance, try sweetening your oatmeal with some applesauce, or bananas. Or you can add a splash of fruit juice to some seltzer water.

Coconut sugar (also known as coco sugar, coconut palm sugar, coco sap sugar or coconut blossom sugar) is a palm sugar produced from the sap of the flower bud stem of the coconut palm.[1]

Producing coconut sugar is a two-step process.[2] It starts with harvesting or "tapping" the flower bud stem of a coconut tree.[3] Farmers make a cut on the spadix and the sap starts to flow from the cut into bamboo containers. The sap collected is then transferred into large woks and placed over moderate heat to evaporate the moisture content of the sap. The sap is translucent and is about 80% water. At this point it is known as coconut neera or nira (Indonesia), and as coconut toddy (Sri Lanka), namwan maphrao (Thailand), or lagbi (North Africa). As the water evaporates, it starts to transform into a thick sap syrup.[2] From this form, it may or may not be further reduced to crystal, block or soft paste form.[citation needed]

In Indonesian cuisine coconut sugar is called gula jawa (Javanese sugar) or gula merah (red sugar), while gula aren refers to palm sugar specifically made from aren palm.[1] Some Indonesian foodstuffs are made with coconut sugar, including kecap manis (a sweet soya sauce) and dendeng (a meat preparation).[2]

Gula melaka is a Southeast Asian name for palm sugar[4] or "malacca sugar",[5] probably named for its origin in the state of Malacca, Malaysia.[6] It is usually derived from coconut palms, but sometimes from other palms.[5] It is used in savory dishes, but mainly in local desserts and cakes of the Southeast Asian region.[citation needed]

Coconut sugar is subtly sweet almost like brown sugar but with a slight hint of caramel. The flavor and sweetness is usually similar to table sugar or brown sugar.[3][7] However, since coconut sugar is not highly processed, the color, sweetness and flavor can vary depending on the coconut species used, season when it was harvested, where it was harvested and/or the way the "sap" or "toddy" was reduced.[citation needed]

The glycemic index (GI) of coconut sugar was reported by the Philippine Coconut Authority to be 35 and by that measure is classified as a low glycemic index food.[10] However, the University of Sydney (Australia) Glycemic Index Research Service measured the GI of coconut sugar to be 54,[11] and considers any GI over 55 to be high.[12]

However, GI can vary greatly between individuals and may also differ between batches of coconut sugar. It may also depend on the other foods it is combined with and their nutritional content, the size and timing of meals, and other factors (3).

Additionally, if consumed in excess, added sugars may contribute to all sorts of health conditions, such as metabolic syndrome, obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. Health experts recommend getting no more than 20% of your total calorie intake from added sugar (4).

It might look like coconut sugar and coconut palm sugar are two different types of sweeteners, when in fact, they are basically the same thing. The moniker "coconut" identifies this is the same identity sugar while if the sugar label says only "palm sugar," this means it is a different type as it can be made from multiple palm tree types and is generally the sap only.

Coconut sugar is extracted from the nectar of coconut palm flowers most often. Coconut sugar is the most interesting choice for natural sweeteners because of the flavor and nutritional profile. It can be a great sugar alternative for people looking for possibly a healthier option than regular white sugar.

The most significant difference between coconut sugar vs palm sugar is their taste! Coconut sugar has a similar flavor to brown sugar, with strong hints of caramel and butterscotch. Pure palm sugar made from the sap is characterized by a more smokey taste.

Coconut palm sugar has generally a lower glycemic index. This means it can potentially be healthier for people with diabetes or other health issues. Coconut sugar is a good substitution for other popular natural sweeteners, like honey or maple sugar due to the more cost effective and vegan nature.

Do you care most about the taste or the potential health benefits? Are you looking for natural sugars, or are you fine with artificial ones or combinations of synthetic sugar with real sugar? Sometimes the choice of the best sugar option will depend on what you are cooking or baking too (we have had issues with date sugar in very high heat baking for example). First consider your needs and then look into the array of options available.

The most common types of sugar in stores are white sugar, brown sugar, powdered sugar, honey, agave syrup, stevia, maple syrup, molasses, and coconut sugar. Each has a benefit. FYI, generally for plain cane sugar the brown sugar option offers the same experience as white sugar but is likely more beneficial with some minerals.

When it comes to the best sugars for cooking, coconut palm sugar and palm sugar are the two types of sweeteners worth your attention (we feel coconut sugar is the better option though). Coconut sugar is our first pick because it is interesting in flavor and nutritional value, and has a lower glycemic index than most refined sugar sweeteners.

Coconut and palm, most people mistaken these two plants as the same. Coconut sugar and palm sugar, also known as arenga sugar are two distinct types of sugar that are obtained in different ways from different plants.

The most common mistake is that coconut sugar is sometimes called coconut palm sugar, which can lead to confusion between the two types of sugar. Many online resources erroneously claiming that coconut sugar and palm sugar are one and the same.

Palm sugar comes from the trunks of palm trees, whilecoconut sugar is harvested by tapping the flower sap of coconut trees. Thesetwo different sugar comes with different harvesting method, but do their flavorsdiffer?

When you are considering the flavor differences between the two types of sugar, it is important to note that the palm sugar which you usually find in the US is usually mixed with cane sugar. This is because pure palm sugar is very difficult to find.

People can extract the sugar from the palm by heating it until the moisture evaporates. After processing, the sugar has a caramel color and tastes similar to brown sugar, making it suitable to use in many recipes.

Insulin enables the body to use sugar, or glucose, for energy. When insulin does not work properly, sugar stays in the bloodstream instead of entering the cells for use. When this occurs, blood glucose levels can become too high.

A person who uses insulin must have the correct dose to process the amount of sugar that is likely to be in their blood at a specific time. If they eat more sugar and do not adjust their insulin dose, this can lead to symptoms of high blood sugar and DKA.

Despite having a lower glycemic index (GI) score when it occurs in fruits, researchers believe that fructose may cause problems when people consume it in the form of pure sugar or as added sugar in processed foods. This is especially so for people with diabetes.

One study from 2013 found that inulin provides some benefits for women with type 2 diabetes, including blood sugar control and improved antioxidant status. Antioxidants protect the body from disease and damage.

High-calorie foods that provide important nutrients can be beneficial in the diet. However, people should limit their intake of foods that provide calories but few or no other nutrients, such as sugars.

People with diabetes are more prone to infections and gum disease. Infections and wounds also take longer to heal when a person has diabetes. They can also worsen quickly, leading to further complications. Gum disease can also make it harder to control blood sugar levels.

All forms of sugar are high in calories and relatively low in nutrients. The body absorbs sugars quickly, and this can lead to blood sugar spikes and a higher risk of heart disease, dental health problems, obesity, and other health complications.

People with diabetes should take care when consuming any sugar, including coconut palm sugar. If they wish to add sugar to their diet, they should do so in moderation and account for the amount of carbs and calories it contains.

Coconut sugar is being touted as a healthier alternative to refined white sugar. Why? Because it has a comparatively low-GI, fewer carbohydrates, more minerals, and a taste that has made fans of many foodies. 041b061a72